Tripod for a gun



Oct. 23, 1-956 R. NISTRI TRIPOD FOR A GUN 2 Sheet .s-Sheet 2 Filed ban. 29, 1953 w 4 v I.

3 lmL/n. E Y 3 United States Patent 1 2,767,618 TRIPOD FOR A GUN Raffaello Nistri, Rome, Italy Application January 29, 1953, Serial No. 333,944 Claims priority, application Italy May 30, 195 2 2 Claims. (CI. 89-40) The subject of the present invention is a stand for weapons, also of the rapid fire type, the principal characteristics of which are contained in the particular form of the tripod and in a special shock absorber.

One form of actuation of the strand which forms the subject of the present invention is shown merely as an illustrative and not limitative example in the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 gives a partial view, from the side, of the stand;

Fig. 2 shows the related plan;

Fig. 3 and show details of the cradle stirrup and a shock absorber ring, respectively, and

Fig. 4 gives a View from above of the weapons cradle with the shock absorber.

The tripod, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of three legs 1 hinged to the central collar 2 by pins 2a, and suitable tie rods 3 which limit the opening of said legs. Each tie rod is associated with a different leg. The outer end of each tie rod is hinged to its associated leg. All the inner ends of the tie rods are hinged to a sleeve 3a slidable lengthwise along the collar 2. A shaft 4 slides within the central collar in a cylindrical guide 4b. The shaft has annular grooves 4a to enable it to be adjusted in height and fixed in position by suitable locks 5 adapted to enter any selected groove. At the foot of each leg are applied, by means of a hinge 6 having two degrees of freedom, two auxiliary feet 7 and 8 which rest on the ground and increase the stability of the stand during firing periods. The hinge 6 has a downwardly directed spur 2b. Said hinge is pivotally attached to the leg 1 by a pivot pin 2g perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg. Said pivot pin enables the feet to be swung about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg. The feet 7, 8 are pivotally attached to the hinge by vertical pivot pins 2e which form vertical axes about which the feet swing. Pins 2 limit outward swinging of the feet relative to the leg. An adjustable screw 2c limits downward swinging movement of the hinge relative to the leg. The tips of the feet are provided with downwardly directed spurs 2d. This arrangement of the feet increases the surface of rest on the ground and thus heightens the stability of the tripod when the Weapon is fired.

A stirrup 9 which supports the cradle 10 is fastened rigidly to the shaft by means of a T-shaped head 9a fast on the shaft 4 and slidable in a T-shaped groove 9b in the underside of the stirrup; once the shaft has been inserted, a cam lever 11 ensures locking of the same.

The weapon is connected to the cradle by means of two shafts 12, 13 which can slide transversely within two slotted holes in the cradle itself; a stirrup 14 connects the Weapon to the shock absorber unit.

The whole system is quickly dismountable because, by rotating the locking cam lever, the stirrup which supports the cradle may be disconnected from the head of the shaft; the feet are folded in by rotating them in the plane of the ground towards the inside of the tripod until they meet (first degree of freedom of the hinge) and then folded up against their respective legs (second degree of freedom of the hinge); at this point the whole system may be closed together like an umbrella.

The shock absorber unit consists of a series of couples of internal 15 and external 16 rings, with their surfaces bearing together in conjugate cones as clearly indicated in the figure. The shaft 17 which connects said rings is 'ice anchored to the weapon by means of a stirrup 14 and is therefore dragged out in the recoil phase of the weapon.

The first ring of the series forming the shock absorber is fastened to said shaft by nut 18. With the object of making the system more elastic, the internal and, if necessary, the external rings may be cut (Fig. 5). In this case the internal hole may be eccentrically located in relation to the edge, and the cut will be made in the position of least width.

It is understood that the stand described may vary in the details without however leaving the limits of the in- Vention, which will be explained in greater detail in the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A stand for a weapon such as a machine gun, said stand comprising in combination a collar, three supporting legs, means horizontally hinging each leg adjacent the upper end thereof to the collar, said hinging means lying in a common horizontal plane, three tie rods each associated with a different leg and horizontally hinged at an end thereof to an intermediate point of the leg, means mounting the other end of each tie rod to the collar for axial movement therealong whereby the legs can be swung to closing position alongside the collar, said collar having a cylindrical guide within the same, a shaft slidable in said guide, a lock for selectively fixing the shaft in any adjusted position, a stirrup at the upper end of said shaft, a weapon cradle mounted on the stirrup, means detachably securing the stirrup to the shaft, at least one of said legs having two feet, means hinging an end of each foot to the lower end of said leg for rotation about spaced vertical axes and means hinging said feet jointly to the lower end of said leg for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said leg whereby the feet can be swung to closing position alongside said leg.

2. A stand for a weapon such as a machine gun, said stand comprising in combination a collar, three supporting legs, means horizontally hinging each leg adjacent the upper end thereof to the collar, said hinging means lying in a common horizontal plane, three tie rods each associated with a different leg and horizontally hinged at an end thereof to an intermediate point of the leg, means mounting the other end of each tie rod to the collar for axial movement therealong whereby the legs can be swung to closing position alongside the collar, said collar having a cylindrical guide Within the same, a shaft slidable in said guide, a lock for selectively fixing the shaft in any adjusted position, a stirrup at the upper end of said shaft, a weapon cradle mounted on the stirrup, means detachably securing the stirrup to the shaft, at least one of said legs having two feet, and a hinging member connected to the lower end of said leg for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg and to the ends of the feet for rotation about spaced vertical axes whereby the feet can be swung to closing position alongside said leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,089,307 Benet et al. Mar. 3, 1914 1,547,295 Bull July 28, 1925 1,621,365 Green et al Mar. 15, 1927 1,639,846 Green Aug. 23, 1927 1,689,662 Bell et al. Oct. 30, 1928 1,708,232 7 Moore et a1. Apr. 9, 1929 2,021,551 Herlach Nov. 18, 1935 2,370,835 Bell et a1 Mar. 6, 1945 2,575,805 Glassey Nov. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 662,589 Great Britain Dec. 5, 1951 

